May 2011 Producer Price Index — 2011-06-14

The Producer Price Index for finished goods rose 0.2 percent in May, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This advance followed increases of 0.8 percent in April and 0.7 percent in March. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods climbed 0.9 percent in May, and the crude goods index declined 4.1 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods moved up 7.3 percent for the 12 months ended May 2011, the largest year-over-year gain since an 8.8-percent advance in September 2008. (See table A.) The May advance in the finished goods index can be traced primarily to prices for finished energy goods, which rose 1.5 percent. The index for finished goods less foods and energy moved up 0.2 percent. By contrast, prices for finished consumer foods fell 1.4 percent in May. Finished energy: The index for finished energy goods increased 1.5 percent in May, the eighth straight monthly advance.